Plea for calm in the Balkans
Balkan politicians agreed yesterday that the future of Kosovo should be settled peacefully and through negotiations at the end of a meeting in Athens, which took place in the wake of the death of Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis chaired the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) conference at the Zappeion Mansion, where participants agreed on a common declaration on Kosovo. They agreed that any solution to the future of the UN-run province «must be reached through peaceful means, excluding any form of violence and should be a product of dialogue and negotiations. «The establishment of a democratic and multi-ethnic society in Kosovo is a prerequisite for its European future,» the declaration added. Kosovo is part of Serbia-Montenegro and the Serbs are unwilling to grant the province full independence. Rugova was seen as a steadying force in Kosovo and his death on Saturday has raised fears that there may be turmoil ahead. Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis said Rugova’s death was «an additional difficulty.» Karamanlis told participants that it was time for the Balkans to put their violent past behind them. «Southeastern Europe should no longer be a region of misunderstanding, violence and war,» the Greek premier said. «It deserves to become a region of cooperation and dialogue, productively integrated in broader international institutions, as a part of Europe, where it belongs.» Greece currently holds the presidency of the SEECP. Other members include Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYROM, Romania, Serbia-Montenegro and Turkey. Most members were represented by their foreign ministers at the Athens conference.
